20090730

My Thursday Thirteen today has to do with cooking, celebrity chefs and becoming a foodie.

When I was younger the "joy of cooking" wasn't the hot trend it is now. You were either a Suzy Homemaker, a professional chef or a lousy cook - the word foodie hadn't been invented. We did have a few cooking shows located on public access television but if you told us there would one day be a whole network devoted to cooking and food I doubt we would have believed you!

I do remember occasionally watching Julia Child and The Galloping Gourmet - remember Graham Kerr? I used to love him - he was always swigging from his cooking sherry, lol. I also remember Yan Can Cook with Martin Yan (though he used a wok way too often for my young mid western sensibilities - I don't even think I'd eaten anything more Asian than an egg roll in those days.) Another favorite was The Frugal Gourmet, Jeff "I bid you peace" Smith. He was not as funny as Graham Kerr but he had his moments!

Today you can't turn on a morning show, talk show or turn the channel without encountering some celebrity chef or seeing a five minute food or drink segment! Heaven has landed on the boob tube for amateur foodies like me. I have fallen so in love with feeding my face I have two websites for food and drink - The Martini Diva and The Diva of Tiny Foods.

I watch more cooking shows than sitcoms. I'm a fan of Top Chef, Next Food Network Star, Hell's Kitchen and I'm currently watching Top Chef Masters. I adore the Food Network Channel - it's my default channel! I watch Chopped, saw the entire Chopping Block season and keep an eye out for any new reality cooking show. I'm addicted and I'm getting educated too!

Though I miss the great chefs of old - the pioneers of today's food fanaticism - I am quite fond of several of today's celebrity chefs too. I do miss Julia and wish Graham would do a remake of The Galloping Gourmet but I doubt it would be as much fun with him on the wagon no, lol.

20090724

Today's theme for Old School Friday is "My Theme Song". Many of you can probably guess what mine is if you've been reading this blog for a while since I've posted it and mentioned it time and again. But for those of you who don't have a clue:

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STARHere's the classic - JiminyCricket from Pinocchio:

Here's the Glenn Miller version - Big Band music and my song, can't beat it:

This whole store started from one funny little napkin I wrote in a bar - my friend cracked up and told me I should write cocktail napkins for a living. I'm not too sure if that was a compliment or an insult, but I took him at his word and these designs below are 13 of the 20 cocktail napkin designs available so far.The designs are available on posters, t-shirts, aprons, cups & travel mugs, neck ties, cards and other fun gear - and the best part? You can personalize them! Perfect deal for bars, restaurants and professional bartenders and mixologists!

The backup crew:Commander - James A. Lovell, Jr.Command Module Pilot: William A. Anders (after his retirement Ken Mattingly moved up from the support this position)Lunar Module Pilot: Fred W. Haise, Jr.

The lunar module was called Eagle - hence "the Eagle has landed" - the command module was named Columbia.

The trip to the moon took three and a half days.The famous Apollo 11 quotes:

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."Interestingly enough, Armstong's use of the term "Tranquility Base" caused some confusion at CAPCOM - the descent had taken longer than usual and there was some concern. This next quote by Charles Duke at CAPCOM says it all:"Roger, Twank...Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue here. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot!"

In closing I would like to say thank you to all those men and women who have made these great events possible. It is their courage and dedication that gave us the moon. Below is a poem I wrote after the Challenger tragedy in their honor:

They made one small stepthat became one giant leapThey gave us the stars,forever to keepThey gave up their liveswith honor and gracein order to conquer that huge unknown SpaceThis sacrifice given for us to be freeTo travel the galaxies as well as the seas.So let us remember those heroes in time,Who Challenged the hazardsof Space and of Time.copyright 1986, 1996 by Terri Dennis

20090717

Today's theme for Old School Fridays is Divas and I'm having a Think Pink for the Cure event, so what else was I going to post today? I've said it before but I'll say it again - I loved this pink dress Marilyn wore for the "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" number in "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds" and the song should be the theme song for divas around the world!

20090716

Continuing with the Think Pink Theme and Event for a Cure for Breast Cancer, below is my Thursday Thirteen featuring a bunch of random Pink Things below.

And for those of you who read my TT last week about the kitty who waltzed into my life - yes, I'm keeping her and her name is Stinky Pinky Tinky Kitty - stinky because she has huge gas events for such a little thing, Tinky because she answered to it, Pinky because I got her during Think Pink and Kitty because that's what I called her for the first 5 days! Yes, I will call her Tink for short. Here she is in a cute pink collar thing:

20090715

When I Think Pink the first thing that comes to mind is cotton candy, it was a favorite confection of mine as a kid. Cotton candy was a sugary, pink cloud of stickiness and I loved it. I also think of Barbie - there's something very "pink" about Barbie to me, very girly and diva. Then I think of Elvis' Pink Cadillac - I love the idea of a pink Caddy - you've probably seen my Elvis Art that features a hot pink Cadillac and if not here it is:

I'm more of a hot pink person than a pale pink person but I love combinations of all the various hues and shades - especially in shoes! Oh, and let's not forget I had a pair of pink eye glasses when I was about eight. No, my bike was blue - sorry!

In keeping with my THINK PINK event I have found some fun Pink Things for you:

20090713

Let's Find a Cure for Breast Cancer - Throw a Pink Party, Wear Pink, Think Pink!Are you having a Pink Party? Why not? It's a great way to get your Diva on and support your favorite breast cancer charity!

20090710

This week's Old School Friday theme is "when I get married" - that will be the day the Devil is wearing mukluks and asking Santa for hand warmers - but I can get into the spirit!

Just for a chuckle imagine the wedding I wanted as a little girl. My groom and I were tying the knot in front of Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland, Tinkerbell was my maid of honor and - with my luck - the groom was probably Goofy. I'm sure my mother would have wanted me to marry someone steady like Mr. Greenjeans but my heart was given to Dr. Kildare, though I would have taken Ben Casey in a pinch.

My wedding gown would have been just like Barbies - only magenta! My wedding colors would have been hot pink and purple and the ushers would have been in turquoise tuxes. Think Birds of Paradise, Honeysuckle (cause you can suck the sweet out of them), and garlands of daisy chains for the wedding bouquets and floral arrangements. For the wedding buffet I would have chosen beans and weenies, pickle sandwiches and popcorn with a cherry Kool-aid fountain!

My music? Oh, probably the classics:

This is the song that would have played as I walked down the "aisle" of the stone walk to the castle:

and I would have had my first dance with my new husband to:

My honeymoon? Where else? DISNEYLAND!

You are hereby cordially invited to my childhood dream wedding. Bring a heavy coat because hell will probably have frozen over.

20090709

Growing up as a young child we had one dog, a daschund named Rinty, short for Rin Tin Tin. (Hey! I didn't name her, my brother Butthead did!) Later in my teenage years I got a kitty and named her Moki, a wonderful little black and white kitty who had a fondness for getting into places she didn't belong - like the mailbox!

In the intervening decades I've had a few other cats as pets, though I am primarily a dog person. I find cats somewhat less affectionate on the whole and much more independent. You can't train a cat quite like you can train a dog either though I must admit I never really tried!

Yesterday morning I found a teeny little gray and white kitten on my doorstep. It was very young, probably just weened or not quite, it was a little dehydrated and a bit skinny. Not a feral cat as I could easily pick it up and hold it, I believe it was either dumped out or escaped just recently.

It gets quite hot here in the afternoons, we have quite a bit of traffic and I couldn't let the kitten stay loose outside, but I was concerned to have it around my beloved Yorkipoo Pixel in case it could make her sick. Fortunately my cousin happened to be here at the time and she works for a vet so she checked her over and said she looked healthy enough and mite/flea free. She also (thank you, Rhonda!) informed me that cats and dogs do not transfer diseases.

So - dammit it all - I took it inside. Pixel uses a litter box so I was able to make it a little "poopy box" and I put out some of Pixel's food and water for it. Rhonda also told me cats can eat dog food but dogs shouldn't eat cat food so I had a temporary food fix. That cat immediately ate at least a half cup of food - it looked like it had swallowed a small ball!

I'm putting up a lost cat sign but I don't hold out any great hope that someone will claim "it". I say "it" because it's so young I'm not even sure if it's male or female! I also am not capable of taking it to the Humane Society because I'm sure it will be put down. I certainly can't throw it back out into the street, so I am now probably a cat owner. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap.

I'm still not committed. Obviously. I haven't given It a name yet and I am putting up those signs, but there are reasons I contemplate keeping Kitty - there are also reasons I don't want to:

CON - Cats shed. I hate pet hair all over the place. Yorkipoos have hair, not fur and they don't shed!

PRO - Pixel has "mommy" issues. Twice a year she goes through a whole fake baby phase, carrying around her hot dog toy and treating it like a baby. Pixel wants babies. Pixel immediately adopted this cat and has been hovering over it like an over-protective bear with a cub. Crap.

PRO - This morning they have been playing together, it's cute as hell. This cat would be wonderful company and a great play companion for Pixel. Crap.

CON - I don't need another animal to feed and take care of.

CON - The cat farted all night long - really big stinky farts for such a little thing. Of course, that could be the result of eating dog food, not cat food. But, man, if it's just prone to fartiness imagine what they could be like as it grows!

PRO - It cuddled with me all night and purred. It loves me. Crap.

CON - It's another creature to worry about if I want to take a road trip or go somewhere.

PRO - It's company for Pixel if I want to take a road trip or go somewhere.

CON - I'll have to get It fixed.

CON - If I keep it I'll have to come up with a name other than Kitty or It.

CON - Do I have enough love to go around and will Pixel get jealous?

PRO - The little bugger is really cute. Crap!

I had no plans to get another pet but I think the Universe had other plans. CRAP!!!!

20090706

No, that is not a political opinion, that is his actual middle name, his mother's maiden name.

Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968, died early this morning at age 93. McNamara served in this capacity under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson during the Viet Nam war era.

We baby boomers heard his name and saw him on the news throughout our youth during the conflict in Viet Nam. We were familiar with those round glasses and the almost twenties style hair cut. Many of us viewed him as the most vocal advocate of the escalation of the war.

To learn more about Robert McNamara watch his documentary, The Fog of War, in eleven clips at YouTube. Below is part one:

20090704

Think about this today as you eat your hot dogs, light your sparklers and celebrate our nation's birthday - The United States is the only country with a known birthday to celebrate!

Our country is 233 years old today.

FOURTH OF JULY QUOTES:

We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others ~ John F Kennedy

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves ~ Abraham LincolnFreedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured ~ Bill Clinton

20090703

Today's Old School Friday theme is from Band to Solo and I went right to The Beatles. I thought that George Harrison really got to shine in his solo career - my all time favorite recording of his was Got My Mind Set On You:

I thought about Paul McCartney too - but I can't decide if he actually went "solo" because of Wings - what do you think?

I was thinking about artists who got even bigger as a solo act and I immediately thought of Diana Ross who's first song after leaving The Supremes was Ain't No Mountain High Enough:

And then I remember Cher who got HUGE after becoming just Cher. (BTW, Sonny and Cher performed together for the last time on The Mike Douglas Show in the spring of 1979 singing a medley of "United We Stand" and "Without You".) Her first solo recording was actually before Sonny and Cher! It was "Ringo, I Love You" and she recorded itunder the name of Bonnie Jo Mason in 1963, even before she and Sonny were Caesar and Cleo! Does anyone remember that one??? You're gonna laugh:

You may remember her first successful solo hit after the breakup with Sonny better:

Who else got bigger after leaving their groups? Well, yup, Michael Jackson! His first solo attempt was Ben - the theme song for the movie about a rat. This video is Michael performing Ben on The Sonny and Cher Show. Remember how he looked back then?

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